South Bay Digest

Carson : Board Member Criticized

City officials are studying a request to remove a member of the Carson Mobile Home Park Rent Review Board, after vocal opposition to her decisions by mobile home park residents.

At a meeting this week, the City Council voted 3 to 1, with Councilwoman Vera Robles DeWitt opposed and Mayor Kay Calas absent, to ask city staff to prepare a detailed report of the meetings in which Betty Hanson has participated. Pending a decision on Hanson's actions--which residents say are unfairly slanted in park owners' favor--the council has temporarily removed the at-large board member from her post and appointed an alternate.

Several representatives of park owners and some members of the rent review board defended Hanson at the Monday council meeting. Hanson did not speak.

In an interview this week, Hanson said she thought that the council was giving a few complaints more credibility than they deserve because it of the upcoming election. Council members Sylvia Muise and Thomas Mills are running for reelection April 8 in a field of eight candidates.

"I think it's unfair and unfounded and for political reasons only," Hanson said. "I feel . . . there (isn't) any reason to have me removed. . . . I try to be impartial."